Summary: A Molecular Mechanism for Eflornithine Resistance in
African Trypanosomes
Isabel M. Vincent1
, Darren Creek1
, David G. Watson2
, Mohammed A. Kamleh2¤
, Debra J. Woods3
, Pui Ee
Wong1
, Richard J. S. Burchmore1
, Michael P. Barrett1
*
1 Faculty of Biomedical and Life Science and Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow,
United Kingdom, 2 Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 3 Pfizer Animal Health, Pfizer Inc,
Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States of America
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis, endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, is invariably fatal if untreated. Its causative agent is the
protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Eflornithine is used as a first line treatment for human African trypanosomiasis, but
there is a risk that resistance could thwart its use, even when used in combination therapy with nifurtimox. Eflornithine
resistant trypanosomes were selected in vitro and subjected to biochemical and genetic analysis. The resistance phenotype